Create and Inspire in the Amafi Coast with Andrea Gianchiglia – SOLD OUT
Andrea Gianchiglia
September 25, 2027 - October 2, 2027
$4395Unfortunately, this workshop is currently full.
Click on the “Sign Up Now” button below to add your name to the waiting list.
We will contact you in the event of a cancellation.
Living the Moment & Evoking the Essence
Join Andrea Gianchiglia for an unforgettable artistic retreat along Italy’s Amalfi Coast, where sunlit cliffs, winding streets, and the sparkling Mediterranean become both muse and memory. This retreat is about more than painting; it’s about savoring life, forming bonds that begin as friendships and grow into family, and letting your art capture the essence of the moment.
All levels and mediums welcome. Come with curiosity, and leave with connection, confidence, and inspiration.
This incredible program will allow us to explore many facets of our artistic expression:
Multi-Medium Exploration & Mindset Expansion: With live demos in pastel, oil, and watercolor, Andrea will guide you in techniques to deepen your artistic voice:
- Capturing fleeting light and atmosphere with confidence.
- Broadening your skills across media while discovering new ways of seeing.
- Simplifying complex scenes into expressive, compelling compositions.
- Allowing your art to reflect presence, growth, and joy.
Plein Air, Studio Work & Lasting Inspiration: Each day offers opportunities to paint en plein air, embrace the play of light, and sketch directly from the breathtaking surroundings. You’ll also refine and expand your work in studio sessions, creating a bridge between capturing the moment and developing lasting pieces. Photos and studies gathered here will fuel your future studio practice long after the retreat ends.
Immersion in Culture & Connection: Our time together will be balanced with cultural experiences, boat rides, market visits, and time to wander charming coastal villages. We’ll share meals of fresh seafood, pasta, and local specialties at family-run trattorias, savoring not only the flavors of the region but also the conversations and laughter around the table.
A Community of Creativity: In the evenings, we’ll gather to reflect, share, and celebrate each other’s growth, culminating in a final showcase of our work. You’ll leave not only with new skills and artwork but with expanded perspective, deeper friendships, and memories of living fully in one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Accommodations and Meals:
Villa Elena, in the small town of Conca dei Marini, will be our exclusive home for the week. Click the Accommodations tab above for more details.
A leisurely breakfast will be prepared at the villa each day for us by our program manager. Dinners will be a mix of eating in local restaurants and at home, always with the emphasis on exploring and appreciating the food of the area. Local wine will be served with each dinner.
Lunches are independent, with plenty of options either on excursions or near the villa.
Please note: The Villa can only be reached via a set of 65 steps! The Amalfi Coast is built entirely on hillsides, so there is no avoiding steps in each town. We recommend this program only for participants who can climb up and down at least once per day. Yes, there is a handrail. (We guarantee you’ll be stronger by the end of the program!)
Price: $4,395 p/p based on double occupancy
PLEASE NOTE: At this location, double beds can not be separated into twin beds. Please keep this in mind when selecting this category.
Options:
- Single Room – Supplement of $695 (limited number available)
- Non-Painters – Discount of $300
Includes:
- Shared double room with modern, en-suite bathroom
- Daily traditional breakfast
- 5 dinners, including wine
- Wine tasting with Stefano
- Daily classes with Andrea
- Excursions to Ravello, Capri by boat, and Amalfi
- Transfer from/to Naples on the first and last days
- All local transportation is provided by taxis or chauffeured vans
- Guides/escorts are included throughout the program and for every excursion
Does Not Include:
- Airfare
- Lunch
- Gratuities
- Art materials
- Independent meals and sightseeing
To Register: just click on the Sign Up Now button. A non-refundable deposit of $500 is required to secure your spot in the workshop. Payment can be made online with a credit card, or you can follow the instructions to send in your registration and payment by mail. Once we receive your deposit, we will send you a formal Registration Confirmation with further information about the program. You will receive 2-3 other correspondences by email before the workshop with information about Italy, a supplies list, and an electronic invoice for the balance. Final Balance is due by July 22, 2027. Any time before your arrival, if you have questions about anything regarding the trip or the program, you can contact us by email or phone, and we’ll be happy to assist you.
Cancellation policy:
$500 deposit is non-refundable. For cancellation:
- 60 days prior to workshop, full refund due less non-refundable deposit.
- 30-60 days prior to workshop, 50% refund of balance paid allowed, less non-refundable deposit.
Less than 30 days before the workshop, no refund due.
Il Chiostro recommends personal travel insurance to cover the possibility of unexpected or last-minute cancellation.
Contact us for more information: info@ilchiostro.com or speak to us live at 800-990-3506.
The Amalfi Coast is notorious for its crowds in every season. For that reason, we have chosen an elegant villa above the crowds in the smaller town of Conca dei Marini. This is between Positano and the town of Amalfi, just below Ravello.
It is called Villa Elena, a prestigious and exclusive villa with incredible sea views, surrounded by verdant, manicured gardens. There are 7 bedrooms, each with a private bathroom, gardens surrounding the property, and a fabulous swimming pool overlooking the sea. There are several terraces with panoramic views, with plenty of private spaces to relax, enjoy your coffee, or meditate. The swimming pool is perched on the side of the hill with views up and down the coast, plus a jacuzzi with hydromassage.
NOTE: The Villa can only be reached via a set of 65 steps! The Amalfi Coast is built entirely on hillsides, so there is no avoiding steps in each town. We recommend this program only for participants who can climb up and down at least once per day. Yes, there is a handrail. (We guarantee you'll be stronger by the end of the program!)
The dining room can comfortably accommodate our group on the evenings when we will have dinner at home. A full kitchen and laundry room add to the comfort and conveniences of our home for the week.
All seven bedrooms have a private, en-suite bathroom and are furnished in an elegant Baroque style.
It will be hard to leave Villa Elena when we go out on our excursions, but you will be delighted to come back "home" in the evenings.
Our villa on the Amalfi Coast is in the small town of Conca dei Marini, between the towns of Amalfi and Positano. One of our guides will meet the group at a central hotel in Naples, from where we'll have a van to transfer us directly to the villa.
If you would prefer to find your own way to the villa, no problem. We'll send you directions and plan to meet you there the afternoon of our arrival.
On the final day, we'll arrange another transfer back to Naples. Again, participants are free to make their own arrangements if they will be traveling independently.
Full details will be supplied in the correspondence closer to the dates of the program.
Travel Agents & Insurance: Over the last few years, the way we travel has undergone significant changes. For that reason, we now encourage everyone to use a professional travel agent when arranging their trips. Travel agents save you time and stress by handling all the details and tailoring your itinerary to your needs. One of the most important services they offer today is helping you choose and enroll in the right travel insurance program. With the continued possibility of schedule changes or postponements, travel insurance has become essential, and selecting the right plan on your own can be overwhelming.
If you encounter any issues during your travels, your agent can provide quick support and solutions, taking the pressure off your shoulders. While booking through online sites like Expedia or Hotels.com may seem more convenient or less expensive, they offer little help if you need to modify your plans. A travel professional, on the other hand, is there to assist you every step of the way, ensuring a smooth and worry-free travel experience.
If you choose to Go It Alone, we highly recommend taking out travel insurance for the trip in the event of any unforeseen obstacles to your travel. We recommend Travelex (800) 504-7883 or Travel Guard International (877) 901-7599.
The Costiera Amalfitana in Italian is more informally known by most Americans as simply "Amalfi". The peninsula, across from the metropolis of Naples and under the shadow of the volcano Vesuvius, consists of Sorrento, Amalfi, Positano, Ravello, and Capri, among many other small towns and villages.
Magically suspended between the blue sky and the iridescent colored sea, the Amalfi Coast enchants the visitor who, at first glance, may doubt that it is even real. Lemon blossoms harmonize with the Mediterranean vegetation and the saltiness of the sea. It is visually stunning with tiny villages on top of cliffs that plunge dramatically into the sea. On closer inspection, the whole area is a labyrinth of stairways and narrow alleys, connecting towns, the mountains, and the sea. We can see the history of survival in the mountainsides that, over centuries, were terraced with human labor to create arable land.
All the towns of the Amalfi coast are connected by the scenic yet diabolical winding road carved into the hillside that follows the natural course of the coastline. Before the construction of the coastal road, locals reached all the towns via still-existing mule tracks and footpaths.
Conca dei Marini, where our villa is located, is a coastal village with a centuries-old maritime tradition. It is a natural "balcony" overlooking the sea, surrounded by the Mediterranean vegetation and terraced gardens planted with lemon groves.
Historically, the inhabitants of Conca dei Marini were skilled sailors and experienced traders. Its houses are the typical Mediterranean style with whitewashed walls, balconies with beautiful flowers tumbling into a spectacular view over the sea. Conca dei Marini was a preferred resort of important writers, artists, and chiefs of state, such as Princess Margaret of England, Gianni Agnelli, Jacqueline Kennedy, the Queen of the Netherlands, Carlo Ponti, and Moet & Chandon.
Click here for a look around the Amalfi Coast with Rick Steves.
Andrea Gianchiglia, local artist of Califon, NJ, graduated from the Hartford Art School, receiving her BFA in illustration with a minor in art history. Andrea works as a full-time artist with private commissions, as well as being an art instructor for the past twenty years.
She teaches at the Visual Art Center of New Jersey, the Center for Contemporary Art, the Hunterdon Art Museum, and others, while also conducting private lessons and workshops both in person and virtually. Andrea works in a variety of media, but as pastel and oils are her favorites, she will also bring watercolor into the mix with this workshop as well.
She enjoys being able to spread the love of art that teaching has allowed her to do. She gains inspiration from teaching all ages and is always taking in what all her students have to offer. Her drive is to provide a safe and educational environment for her students to feel comfortable exploring and evolving within their art journey.
Website: www.agillustration.com
